A U.S. pastor was abducted at gunpoint in front of his congregation during a sermon Thursday evening in what authorities believe was a targeted kidnapping for ransom.
Pastor Josh Sullivan, a missionary from Tennessee, was preaching at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, just outside the coastal city of Gqeberha, when four masked men stormed the church, police said.
The armed suspects entered during a prayer meeting attended by about 30 people, including Sullivan’s wife and six children. Witnesses said the men called Sullivan by name, stole two cell phones, and then forced him into his own vehicle at gunpoint before fleeing.
Police later found the abandoned vehicle about a mile from the church, but Sullivan remains missing.
“This is deeply personal,” said Rev. Jeremy Hall, a fellow pastor based in Gqeberha. “They knew exactly who they were targeting. This looks financially motivated.”
Kidnappings for ransom have been on the rise in South Africa, with over 17,000 reported cases in the past financial year—an 11% increase from the year before, according to police statistics. Criminal gangs often target high-profile or foreign individuals, expecting large payouts for their release.
Sullivan moved to South Africa with his family in 2018 to minister to the local Xhosa-speaking community. He had been a staff member at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, since 2012 before moving overseas.
On his missionary website, Sullivan shared his dedication to church planting and his journey through language school in preparation for long-term ministry.
READ ALSO: 13-Year-Old Girl Accused of Killing Mother of Three in England
“We are devastated,” Fellowship Baptist Church wrote in a Facebook post. “Please pray for Josh, his safety, and his family during this terrifying time.”
Local police have launched an investigation, and the anti-gang unit is involved. No ransom demands have been made public yet.
Authorities are also investigating whether this case is connected to the recent kidnapping of a Chinese national in the same region earlier this week.
Gun violence and abductions remain major concerns in South Africa, where an average of 33 people are killed with firearms every day, according to Gun Free South Africa.
